Shock absorber



J. P. BALDWIN SHOCK ABSORBER Aug. 1921. K ,235

Original Filed Dec. 27, 1921 Patented Aug. 9, I927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES PIERCE BALDWIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

snoox ABSORBER.

7 Original application filed December 27, 1921, Serial No. 525,082. Divided and this application filed May 6, 1926. Serial ltd-107,253.

The present invention relates to shock ab-.

sorbers and particularly to shock absorbers operating in conjunction with vehicle springs and provided with means for the regulation of the damping effect of the absorber on the spring. I

In my copending application, Serial No. 525,082, filed December 27, 1921, I illustrate and describe in detail a shock absorber of l the friction type having two relatively rotatable members, one of which is adapted to be secured to the frame of the vehicle and the second of which is adapted'to be connected toan axle. The first of these mem- 1 here constitutes a base and is provided with an internal cylindrical friction surface and the second comprises a frame which carries means to frictionally engage such friction surface upon the occurrence of relative rota- 20 tive movement of said members in one direction and to substantially disengage said) member when relative movement occurs in the opposite direction. Means 18 provided for automatically compensating for wear of 25 the various parts which make up this fric tion producing mechanism. The present ap-- plication is a division of the application above mentioned and has for its subject matter one form of the means for. effecting ad'- B justment of the friction producing mechanism which, altho fully disclosed in said ap plication, is not specifically claimedgtherein.

In the accompanying drawings the shock absorber is illustrated; in axial sectionin Figure 1, in transverse in Figure 2, and in bottom plan in Figure 3. The exact construction and mode of operation of the shock absorber being set forth at length in the application of which this is adivision it is not necessary, in the present application, to describe the entire shock absorber in detail. In order that the correlation of the mechanism herein claimed. to the other operative parts of the absorber may be 45 fully understood, however, the main elements of the entire assembly will be briefly described. It "will be understood that the invention claimed herein is, however, not limited in its application toshock absorbers of the exact type illustrated and described, that it is adapted for use in connection with shock absorbers which differ considerablyin structure and mode of operation, and further that the design and arrangement of the engaging the shoes 13.

component elements of the adjusting mechanism itself may be varied in adapting the same to different types of shock absorbers without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. i f

The base of theshock absorber, which is particularly adapted to be secured to the frame of a vehicle, is indicated at 10 and the frame at 11. The base is provided with an internal cylindrical friction face 12 against which the three friction shoes 13 are thrust upon the occurrence of relative rotation of the base and frame in one direction,with the result that great frictional resistance to such relative movement is brought into play. These shoes substantially release themselves from friction surface 12 upon the occurrence of relative movement of base and frame in the opposite direction. In other words, the shock absorber is of the one way type.

The frame 11 is provided with an axially T extending spindle 14 to the end of whichisf keyed arm 15 which arm is in turn connected by any suitable means (not illustrated) to the axle of a vehicle so that relative rotation ofthe frame and axle results in rotation of the frame within the base or casing 10. The frame has also a disk-like portion 16 provided with a plurality of upstanding lugs 17 equidistantly spaced around its axis. These lugs are arranged in pairs and the adjacent faces .of the lugs ofeach pair. are parallel,

the spaces between these mutually facing surfaces constituting trackways for the strut seats 18.- Struts 19 have their inner ends articulated on suitable outwardly facing surfaces .of the strut seats and their outer ends the strut seats are inclined as shown in Figure 1 and bear respectively against the corre spondingly inclined faces of a central wedge member or nut 20. The thrust of the struts is transmitted directly by the strut seats to thiscentral wedge member in the operation of the shock absorber. i v i It is obvious that in the long continued operation of a frictional shock absorber of the typejust described wear will occur in the operating parts as well as compression of the leather facings of the friction shoes, if such facings are employed. For this reason it is desired that the nut or supporting wedge member 20 be made adjustable in order that it may be moved from time to The inner faces of 20 toward the head of the bolt to thrust the strut seats 18 rad ally outward.

time to displace the strut seats outwardly to compensate for this wear. It is 'lurther desirable to have the adjusting mechanism rigidly maintain the strut seats in adjusted after adjustment has been ffected position I have found the ad usting mechanism illustrated to be quite etlective in ZLIlliQlllEtllL-.

cally bringing about adjustment and in rigidly maintaining their new positions. Y J

This adjusting mechanism includes the axialmember or bolt 21 which has threaded engagement with an axial aperture in the wedge 20 and .a coiled spring 22 which constantly exerts a force on the outer end of this bolt tending to turn it to cause the nut to advance. 7 Bolt/21 is provided with a head 28 the fiat inner surface of which seats on stantly acts, during the entire liteoii'the shoclr absorber, on the adjusting bolt and tends to turn the same to draw the wedge and thereby l/Vhenever sufficient wear of the parts occurs suchadjustment is in tact automatically etfected and it is entirely unnecessary for manual adjustments to be made. For this reason the adjusting mechanism maybe applied to the'shock absorber in a position which normally inaccessible, that is, which is not accessible unless the shock absorber is removed from the vehicle to which it is applied. lVhile the thrust o1 the struts 18 on the strut seats normally tends to effect movement of the wedge 20 outwardly it will be. seen that because of the engagement of the head of the adjusting bolt 23 with the disk 2 L no movement can result. The strut seats are theretoreheld rigidly in adjusted position. 7

It will be understood, as previously explained, that the automatic adjusting mechanism may be applied to shock absorbers which vary in design and construction from that illustrated and also that, in applying the adjusting mechanism to diiterent types of shock absorbers minor changes may be made in the shape andv arrangement of its component elements.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shock absorber, in combination,

members adapted to be attached respectively the adjusted elements in lar to relatively movable part-s,- means associated with said members whereby relative movement thereof in one direction is frictionally opposed, said means including an adjustable, element. tor taking up wear of the operating parts of the shock absorber,

and. means whereby said element is automatically adjusted as wear occurs, said last mentioned means holding the element against movement due to the action of the friction producing means in the normal operation ot the shock absorber.

2. In a shock absorber, in combination, members adapted to be attached respectively to relativelymovable parts, means associe ated with said members whereby relative movement thereofin one direction is 'irictionally opposed, said means incl-uding'an adjustable wedge for taking up wear of the operating parts of the shock absorber," and means whereby said wedge is automatically adjusted as wear occurs, said last mentioned means holding the wedge against movement due to theactionof the friction producing means in the no-rmal'operation ofthe shock absorber. i

3. In a shock absorber of the class described, in combination, relatively rotatable concentric base and frame members, one of said members having an internal annular taceybralte shoes interposed between said members'and adapted to bear against said annularface', means for thrustingsaid' brake shoes against said face upon the occurrence offrelative movement of said members in one direction ot'rotation and forreleasing the same upon occurrence of such motion in the opposite direction, said meansincluding a strut for eachbrake-shoe having its outer end in contact with the corresponding shoe and its inner end contacting witlran adjust--.

able seat, and a device tor'automatically listing such seats and rigidly maintain ing them in adjusted position.

4-. In a' shock absorber 'otthe class described, in'com'bination, relatively rota-table concentric base and frame members, one

ot'said members having an internal annutace, brake shoes interposed between said members and adapted to bear against said annular fa'cdnieanslfor thrusting said brake shoes against said face upon" the occurrence ot relative movement of said mem bers in one direction of'rotation and for re leasing the same upon occurrence of such motion in the opposite direction, said means includlng a strut for each brake shoe having its outer endiin contact withthe corresponde ing shoe and its inner end contacting with an adjustable seat, a device for automatie cally adjusting such seats and rigidly maintaining them in adjustedposition, said de vice including a wedge in contact with all of said seats, -a'nd means exerting a substantiallyconstant force on saidwedge tending to adjust said strut seats outwardly While at the same time positively preventing movement of said wedge inwardly.

5. In a shock absorber of the class described, in combination, relatively rotatable concentric base and frame members, one of said members having an internal annular face, brake shoes interposed between said members and adapted to bear against said annular face, means for thrusting said brake shoes against said face upon the occurrence of relative movement of said members in one direction of rotation and for releasing the same upon occurrence of such motion in the opposite direction, said means including a strut for each brake shoe having its outer end in contact with the corresponding shoe and its inner end contacting with an adjustable seat,a device for automatically adjusting such seats and rigidly maintaining them in adjusted position, said device including a wedge in contact with all of said seats, a screw having threaded engagement with the wedge, and held by the frame against axial movement in one direction, and a spring exerting a substantially constant turning force on the screw.

6. In a shock absorber of the class de scribed, in combination, relatively rotatable concentric base and frame members, one of said members having an internal annular face, brake shoes interposed between said members and adapted to bear against said annular face, means for thrusting said brake shoes against said face upon the occurrence of relative movement of said members in one direction of rotation and for releasing the same upon occurrence of such motion in the opposite direction, said means including a strut for each brake shoehaving its outer end in contact with the corresponding shoe and its inner end contacting with an adjustable seat, a device for automatically adjusting such seats and positively maintaining them in adjusted position, said device including a Wedge in contact with all of said seats, a headed screw extending thru a portion of the frame and having threaded engagement with the wedge and a spring exerting a substantially constant turning force on the screw, the screw head bearing constantly against the portion of the frame through which it extends, by which it is supported against longitudinal movement in one direction.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES PIERCE BALDWIN. 

